Azores Genealogical Conference and Research Trip

Salt Lake City, Utah
Tuesday, April 7 - Friday, April 10, 2015

Join us for a fun and very informative conference that focuses on the Azores and will include lectures, computer lab time, one-on-one guided research, and time for general research in the world's greatest genealogical library, the Family History Library.2015 Conference Information and Registration

Welcome to the Azore Islands site of the World GenWeb Project. This site was designed as a resource for genealogists researching their ancestors; as well as anyone having an interest in the Azore Islands. If you are a genealogist, I hope you will find some information here that will aid you in your research. If you would like to know more about the Azore Islands, hopefully, you will find that information here as well.

There are many things here that will help you to research your ancestors and to find out more about their lives. There are examples of records here; baptism, marriage, and death. There are maps of each island that show the village locations and list the Churchs and a time frame for the records that are available. I have included information on Fraternal Societies and Alien Registration forms. Two resources that are very informative but largely unknown by many researchers. There are photos from several islands and information on how our Azorean ancestors were buried on these tiny islands. You will find a Portuguese Paleography here which will help you to read the old records as well as a list of commonly used words you will find in those records. In addition, you will find wonderful resources that will point you in the right direction to be able to find out your own information on your ancestors. While you're browsing the site, be sure to check out the Queries that others have posted.

Check out the "What's New?" section below to see the latest changes and additions.

Also, I posted an account of another ancestor of mine, that, although not Portuguese, I believe you will find it interesting reading -- especially if you consider that most of our ancestors arrived here in much the same way as the WORKMANS. This is about the family of Benjamin WORKMAN and his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) WILSON and their five sons. Benjamin and Betty were my 6th Great Grandparents. As you will read, this family obviously had the means to be able to afford the purchase of staterooms for their voyage instead of steerage as so many others were forced to do. Still, though, I think it is a well written and informative account of what a trip to the New World was like. As you will see, too, at the end of their voyage, the problems they encountered when searching for lost family members were probably experienced by many of our ancestors. See it at the Passenger Ship List Page

Some material on this website is reprinted by permission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In granting permission for this use of copyrighted material, the Church does not imply endorsement or authorization of this website.

A Brief History of the Azores

The Azore Islands were discovered by the Portuguese in 1427. At that time, they were uninhabited, but the Portuguese began to settle there in 1439. Then, later under Prince Henry the Navigator, the islands were colonized in some part by the Flemish, which is why so many of the people of the Azores have blue eyes and fair complexions. Later settlers included Jewish farmers, Bretons, and some Italians, English, and Scots. The island of Santa Maria was the first to be discovered and was where Columbus' crews paused when they returned from their first trip upon discovering America. The islands were named after a bird from the hawk family that was found in the area. The Azores are thought by some to be part of the sunken continent of Atlantis.

During the period from 1580 - 1640, the Azores were occupied by Spain and used as a staging base for the Spanish fleets. The seas surrounding the islands were the site of many a fierce sea battle between France and Spain.

The Azores were declared an autonomous, or self-governing, region of Portugal in 1976.

Climate of the Azores

The archipelago's location in the north Atlantic, means that it's climate is controlled by the high pressure areas common in the North Atlantic and the polar and tropical air masses. The European continent is over 1500 km away, so these oceanic conditions are the controlling factors in the climate. As a result, the Azores has a very temperate climate with only a small annual variance. Temperatures generally range from 57 degrees F. (14 C) in winter to 71 degrees F. (22 C) in the summer. There is an average of 77% humidity and regular rainfall throughout the year.

Researchers Available For Hire

From time to time, I may receive information from people offering to do research for others. I would like to pass that information along on this web site in the hopes that it may be helpful to other researchers who might need help from someone who actually lives in the Azores and has easier access to many of the records.

****I am not necessarily making a recommendation that anyone listed on this site do research for you. The people listed here as researchers have simply contacted me and asked that an ad for their services be included on this web site.

João Ventura lives on Terceira Island, Azores and does genealogy research on all the islands of the Azores. He has already done the genealogy of the following villages, from 1911 back to the earliest documents:

Fees:
$US20.00 for each document (copy, transcription and summary translation included).
US$10.00 for transcription and summary translation of documents.

From George Pacheco: Hello my name is George Pacheco and for the past 17 years I have been researching Azorean and other Genealogy. I am available to do research on the following: Azores, Madeira, Cabo Verde, and Mainland Portugal. Please contact me at my website http://www.georgepacheco.com/